Latching device



Patented Jan. 9, 1940 Y UNITED STATES The present invention relates to alatching device and particularly relates to a latching device which maybe generally applied in connection with the attachment of various sheetmetal articles together and more particularly with the attachment ofcowls, covers, hoods, and so forth to mounting structures.

Although not specifically restricted thereto, the present invention' maybe particularly described in connection with its application to hood orcover locking devices upon automobiles or airplanes in which a cover ofmetallic or other similar material is to be rigidly attached or lockedto a mounting plate or latch structure.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a simplelocking construction of the character described which will be ofinexpensive construction, may be readily operated to make a rigidconnection which will not permit of rattling and which may be utilizedfor long periods of time without damage and without breakage.

In accomplishing the above objects, it has been found most satisfactoryto attach a spring memher to one of the'elements to be connectedtogether and a key member to the other element and it is among thefurther objects of the present invention to provide an improved lockingor latching construction of the character described, which may utilizerelatively simple and inexpensive forms of spring holder devices, whichmay be devoid of coil spring constructions and which may also beattached to the plate members without the need of using rivets orotherwise piercing the metal at a plurality of points adjacent the pointof connection.

Still further objects and advantages will appear from the more detaileddescription set forth below, it being understood, however, that thismore detailed description is given by way of illustration since variouschanges therein may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention.

In accomplishing the above objects, it has been found most satisfactoryto form the latchor rod element to engage the bows and thereby tionswhich engage a ring or sleeve which may be 6 both the key and theresilient spring member to 1 the back of the device with the key inlocked somewhat reduced scale as compared to Figures PATENT OFFICE tolatch the two members together and press them closely together.

In the preferred form of device the bowed spring member is provided withinturned porfitted into an opening in the plate member to be connectedto the other plate member carrying the key.

By this construction, it is possible toattach the plates to beconnectedtogether without riveting and by merely piercing the two platesat the point of connection.

The key is held or fixedly pivoted upon one of the plates or elements tobe lockc'i together, while the other element is provided with a keyopening to receive said key and with a resilient locking means therefor.

Preferably, said second member is provided with a resilient plate memberor other spring means firmly to hold said resilient wing in positionwhen the samehas been inserted through the key slot and turned.

Referring to the drawing which illustrates several of the variouspossible embodiments of the present invention, but to which the presentinvention is by no means restricted since the drawing is merely by wayof the illustration and not by way of limitation.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the locking device of the presentinvention on a somewhat enlarged scale as compared to actual sizeshowing position.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view 'on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view at right angles to Figure 2 onthe line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view 'of the spring element removed irom theconstruction upon a Figures 5 and 6 are side perspective viewsillustrating the positioning of the head of the device in connectionwith the plates to be attached to each other.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the two devices to be attached together mayconsist or comprise plate members A and B, the plate member A carryingthe key member C and the plate member B carrying the wire spring deviceD which is held in position by the sleeve E.

The key- Cis fitted into an opening ii) in the front plate A, providedwith a bevel at H, said key lliaving a cylindrical body l2 and afillister slot 3.

The outer portion of the key has an outturned bevelled portion l4 tocontact with the bevel II in the plate A.

The cylindrical body l2 of the key C is provided with the recess I5which receives the snap wire ring It. The snap wire ring 16 restsagainst the back face I! of the plate A. The end of the cylindrical bodyI2 is provided with an extension i3 of reduced diameter which has aflattened portion 19 carrying the transverse key member 20. The

outer lower corners of the element 20 are bevelled to cooperate with theelement D.

The inside plate B is also provided with an opening 2| having thebevelled recessed portion 22 which receives the sleeve member E. Thesleeve member E is provided with a corresponding outwardly bevelledportion 23 to contact with the bevelled recessed portion 22. The sleeveE inside of the back face 24 of the plate B is provided with a groove 25which receives the approximately quarter circular portions 26 and 21 ofthe spring member D.

The sleeve E'closely fits the cylindrical body I 2 of the key C at 28and it is provided with a shoulder 29 which may be made to coincide withthe shoulder 30 in the key member C. Beyond the shoulder the sleeve Ehas two projections 3| which at their outer ends have pressed down lugs32 to stop the ends 33 of the transverse member 20 of the key C when inlocked position.

The spring member D, as best shown in Figure 4 has two parallelly bowedmembers 34 having a central depressions or notches 35, and outturnedhorizontal legs 36 at the ends thereof, which are joined together bymeans of the quarter circular portions 21.

The ends of the quarter circular portions 21 have downturned elements 31which fit into the opening or hole 38 and 39 in the ring E in the plateB adjacent the main opening 2|. These two downturned legs 31 maybe spotwelded together at this point.

The spacing between the quarter circular portions 26 and 2! is such thatthe spring D may be snapped into the groove 25 on the sleeve E withassurance that such spr ng element D will be held firmly in position andin turn will lock the ring E in position.

If it were desired to eliminate the necessity of the stops 32 so thatthe transverse member 33 could be given a full turn, the ring E might becut down to just provide the groove 25, thus eliminating the upstandingside members 3| which merely function as stops for the transverse member20.

The members 3| are also of value in preventing spreading of the bowedelements 34 upon turning of the key into locked position.

To dismantle the structure, as shown in' Figures 1 to 3, the transversemember may be turned 90 to the right as indicated by the arrow 40 inFigure 1 and in this position the two plates may be separated with thetransverse member 30 moving out between the parallel members 34 andthrough the openings l and 2|.

By removing the snap ring I and removing the quarter portions 26 and 21from the groove 25, it is possible to support the key C and the sleeveor ring E from the plates A and B respectively.

The assembly may be most readily made in a reverse direction. Thebevelled edge 20:; will slide upon the wires 34 most readily In Figures5 and 6 are shown in perspective how the attachment may actually beused, Figure 5 showing the flush construction of Figure 2 and Figure 6showing a raised fillister type head on the key. In Figure 5 it will benoted that the back plate B carries a plate G which is flush and abutsthe plate A at 42.

The short plate B which terminates at 43 may be soldered,'spot welded,riveted or otherwise permanently connected to the main member G.

It will be noted that the head of the key C in Figure 5 is flush withthe plate A because of the countersinking II, as shown in Figure 2.

In Figure 6 this countersinking may be omitted and the key provided witha raised head 44 having a fillister slot 45.

The two heads of Figures 5 and 6 require application of a screw thereforor turning tool. If de sired, a fin may be utilized to enable turning ofthe device by hand.

It is thus apparent that the applicant has provided a simple,inexpensive latching construc-.

tion which may be readily manufactured, assembled and dismantled andwill give assurance of a permanent lock when in position.

There are no rivets or coil springs and the double bar or wire structure34-34 gives additional strength and permits use of smaller gaugematerial or wire. "I

It is apparent that the specific illustrations shown above have beengiven by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and that thestructures above described are subject to wide variation andmodification without departing from the scope or intent of theinvention, all of which variations and modifications are to be includedwithin the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A fastening devicefor two parts with openings comprising separatefastening elements, one of said elements consisting of a double bowedspring having parallel bowed wires on opposite sides of said openingshaving the inside ends of eachbow mounted on one part on opposite sidesof the opening therein, the second of said elements being a key havingan elongated shank and a cross bar at the end thereof to engage thespring, said key being so formed as to project inside of said spring andsaid cross bar being formed for interlocking engagement with said springby the turning movement of the key to detachably fasten said partstogether.

2. A fastening device comprising separate coengaging fastening elementsrespectively associated with the parts to be fastened together, one ofsaid elements consisting of a key and the other of said elementsconsisting of parallel spring wires, said spring and key beingpositioned on opposite sides of said parts, and, openings in said partsto be fastened together to permit said key to be inserted between saidwires and to be'locked with said spring, the inner ends of said wiresbeing mounted concentrically of said openings on one of said parts onopposite sides of said openings and the wires being integrally joined,said spring forming a recess in which said key is inserted and the wiresof said spring forming double inclined planes with which said keycooperates to form the lock, the ends of said wires being inturned andconnected together.

3. A fastening device for two parts with openings comprising separatefastening elements, one of said elements consisting of two parallelbowed spring wires having the inside ends mounted on one part onopposite sides of the opening therein, the second of said elements beinga key having an elongated shank and a cross bar at the end thereof toengage the spring, said key being so formed as to project inside of saidspring and said cross bar being formed for interlocking engagement withsaid spring by the turning movement of the key to detachably fasten saidparts together, said wires having an elongated recess in which saidshank and cross bar are to be inserted and said spring wires formingdouble inclined planes for engagement with said cross bar and saidspring being notched at the limit of movement of said cross bar.

4. A fastening device for two parts with openings comprising separatefastening elements, one of said elements consisting of parallel bowedspring wires having their inside ends entwined and joined mounted on onepart at the opening therein, the second of said elements being a keyhaving an elongated shank and a transverse ale-- spring forming inclinedplanes for engagement with said transverse element.

5. A fastening device for two parts having cooperating openings, saidparts carrying a turning key and a fixed spring, the key having portionsengaging and looking with the said spring, and an attaching ring, thepart carrying the spring having said attaching ring in its openingholding the ends of said spring.

6. A fastening device for two parts having cooperating openings, saidpartscarrying a turning key and a fixed parallel bowed spring, the keyhaving portions engaging and looking with the bow ofsaid spring, and anattaching ring, the

wardly bowed portions, diverging portions extending toward each otherfromthe ends of the bowed portions and quarter circular portionsconnecting the inside ends of the diverging portions and a ring toengage said quarter circular portions and hold said spring on the otherplate.

9. The latching device of claim 8, said ring having an elongated sleevehaving portions holding said upwardly bowed spring portions in positionand also having stops to limit the movement of said key. v

10. The latching device of claim 8, the middle portions of said upwardlybowed spring portions being notched to receive the locking portion ofsaid key when said key is turned to latch the plates together.

11 A latching device comprising two plates to be latched together withmatchingopenings, a key carried in one opening, an attachment ring inthe other opening and a spring to engage said key carried by said ring.

JEREMIAH W. AL'BIN.

